Function creep definition
Function creep means a widening of the data processing beyond the original pur- pose or context. This violates the principle of purpose binding and can pose risks to privacy that have to be considered when assessing the system [19]. However, com- puter science aims at re-using code developed once. The art of programming usually offers many degrees of freedom in adapting IT systems for new contexts. As a related matter, interoperability is highly appreciated. Typically the scope of data processing is not limited to one or very few purposes only. Economists are even more trained to exploit available data for multi-purpose usage. Here often context-spanning identifiers are being assigned so that new usage possibilities of the data, thereby linkable across contexts, can be created later. Here function creep is not regarded as a bug, but as a feature.
Function creep means using information for a purpose that is not the initially specified purpose
Examples of Function creep in a sentence
Function creep “constitutes a breach to the purpose limitation principle” (Ibid.) RFID technology should only be used for the stated objective and kept “for only as long as necessary to meet the original objective for which it was collected”.783 A number of difficulties may still arise in enforcing a prohibition on reading RFID implants or other RFID tags on a person without the knowledge and/or permission of that person.